Object and food item storage device

ABSTRACT

A device and method for packaging and storing an object and food item. The object storage device may include a substantially hollow vessel that may be separated into at least a top portion and a bottom portion. An internal divider may be provided to separate the vessel into at least two compartments, a food item storage compartment and a toy or object storage compartment.

BACKGROUND

Companies often try to package toys with food items. For example, cereal boxes often come with small toys, fake tattoos, or stickers inside of them. Similarly, some gum packages come with sports player cards inside. Also, many fast food meals come with small toy giveaways. Being able to package a small toy or object with a food item is viewed as an extra treat and has made the purchase of some products more desirable. It is also very useful to have a fun or decorative container for objects and food items.

SUMMARY

In one exemplary embodiment, an object and food item storage device may be provided. The object storage device may include a substantially hollow vessel that may be separated into at least a top portion and a bottom portion. There may be a base section of the vessel. An internal divider may be provided to separate the vessel into at least two compartments, a food item storage compartment and an object storage compartment.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment, a method for packaging and storing an object and food item may be provided. The method may include providing an object and food item storage device and putting a first food item or object in a bottom portion of the vessel. An internal divider may then be placed in the vessel and a second object or food item may be put within the vessel on the opposite side of the internal divider from the first food item or object. The vessel may then be closed or sealed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an object storage device.

FIG. 2 is a perspective, exploded view of an object storage device.

FIG. 3 is a side view of an object storage device.

FIG. 4 is a side, exploded view of an object storage device.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an object storage device.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of an object storage device.

FIG. 7 is a side, cross-sectional view of an object storage device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective, exploded view of an object storage device.

FIG. 9 is a perspective, exploded view of an alternative embodiment of an object storage device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Aspects of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and related figures directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize that alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation.

FIGS. 1-7 show an exemplary embodiment of a food and object storage device 100. The storage device 100 may include a vessel 110. Vessel 110 may be made of plastic, wood, metal, carbon fiber, rubber, polymers, or other materials as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. Vessel 110 may be a variety of colors, or vessel 110 may be substantially clear or transparent. Vessel 110 may also be a translucent color. In an exemplary embodiment, vessel 110 may be a fully enclosed, substantially hollow shell and may separate along a separation line 111 into at least two pieces. The separation of vessel 110 may create access to the interior of vessel 110. Inside an exemplary food and object storage device 100, a food or candy item 132 and an object or toy 142 may be stored. Food and object storage device 100 may serve as packaging for products and it may also serve as a storage container.

In one embodiment, vessel 110 may separate into a top portion 112 and a bottom portion 116. Top portion 112 may have a securing lip 114 and bottom portion 116 may have a securing lip 118. Securing lip 114 may be disposed around the open edge 170 of top portion 112 and securing lip 118 may be disposed around the open edge 172 of bottom portion 116. Securing lips 114, 118 may secure vessel 110 in a closed or assembled position when engaged together. Engaged securing lips 114, 118 may form separation line 111. The securing lips may secure the portions of vessel 110 together by creating a snap fit, flange fit, friction fit, undercut fit, or screw fit. The top and bottom portions of vessel 110 may alternatively or additionally be held together by shrink wrapping. The shrink wrap may be disposed around vessel 110 and may tighten around vessel 110, securing the portions together. The shrink wrap may tighten upon heating. The shrink wrapping may also have words or graphics disposed on it. Bottom portion 116 may have a substantially flat or concave base section 124 that may allow object storage device 100 to rest in a desired orientation on a surface. In an embodiment where base section 1 124 is concave, object storage device 100 may rest on the perimeter of base section 124. Similarly the area of base 124 may be indented from its perimeter, allowing object storage device 100 to rest on the perimeter.

When assembled, there may be at least one internal divider 120 that secures within vessel 110 to separate the substantially hollow interior of vessel 110 into at least two compartments. In an exemplary embodiment, these compartments may be a food storage compartment 130 and an object storage compartment 140. In an exemplary embodiment, internal divider 120 may divide vessel 110 proximate separation line 111. Alternatively, internal divider 120 may be disposed within the interior top portion 112 or bottom portion 116. The location of interior divider 120 may be varied based on the desired size of the various compartments. Internal divider 120 may be disposed so that its perimeter engages the interior of of vessel 110, whether within top portion 112, bottom portion 116, or along separation line 111. Internal divider may be substantially planar and may be disposed substantially parallel to separation line 111. In other exemplary embodiments, there may be multiple internal dividers 120. In embodiments with multiple internal dividers 120, internal dividers 120 may be disposed parallel to one another or internal dividers 120 may be disposed perpendicular to one another. For example, a first internal divider 120 may be disposed along separation line 111 and a second internal divider 120 may be disposed perpendicular to the first internal divider. The combination of the first and second internal dividers may create three compartments. The 3rd compartment may hold a second food item or a second object. Similarly, there may be more than three internal dividers 120 splitting the vessel into smaller compartments. In some embodiments, internal divider 120 may seal one of the compartments. For example, internal divider 120 may secure to the sides of vessel 110 in a manner that seals food storage compartment 130 so as to protect and preserve its contents from exterior elements and spoilage. The seal may be air-tight, water-tight, or both.

Internal divider may be made of plastics, polymers, composites, wood, paper, cellophane, metal, or foil. In some embodiments, internal divider 120 may be substantially rigid, while it other embodiments, internal divider 120 may be malleable. Internal divider 120 may fit securely or loosely within vessel 110. An additional sealing element, such as a plastic, paper, cellophane, or foil sheet may seal the food storage compartment 130 while internal divider 120 serves as merely a separator between the food storage compartment 130 and the object storage compartment 140. Internal divider 120 or the additional sealing element may seal to the shell of vessel 110 by suction, heat sealing, or adhesive. In an exemplary embodiment, internal divider 120 may be a film made of plastics that can be sealed to an edge 170/172 of vessel 110 by applying heat. The film may serve as both the divider and sealing element. Food storage compartment 130 may not be sealed in all embodiments.

In an exemplary embodiment, food storage compartment 130 may be defined by the shell of bottom portion 116 and internal divider 120. Similarly, object storage compartment 140 may be defined by the shell of top portion 112 and internal divider 120. Food storage compartment 130 may be capable of holding liquid or solid food items 132 that fit within its interior. In an exemplary embodiment, food storage compartment 130 may hold a candy or confectionary item. More specifically food storage compartment 130 may hold chocolate syrup or chocolate paste. The food or confectionary item 132 found in food storage compartment 130 may be a surprise. The object storage compartment 140 may hold objects 142 that fit within its interior such as small toys or utensils, such as paper clips or erasers. An exemplary embodiment of an object storage device may hold a figurine, toy car, or similar small toy. FIGS. 1 and 2 show an object storage compartment 140 holding an eraser shaped like a toy car. FIG. 8 shows an object storage device that contains a figurine of a dog in the object storage compartment. Similarly to the food item 132, the object 142 may be a surprise.

In an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1-7, vessel 110 may be substantially egg shaped or ovoid. In alternative embodiments, vessel 110 may be substantially spherical, cylindrical, pyramidal, cuboidal, or other similar shapes that may allow object storage device 100 to function as described. In yet further embodiments, such as the one shown in FIGS. 8-9, vessel 810 may have an ornate shape in the form of an animal, toy, or other object, such as a cupcake. Reference numbers for FIGS. 8 and 9 may represent similar features to the reference numbers throughout the description having the same numerals in the tens and ones place. As shown in FIG. 8, for example, bottom portion 816 may be a tapered cylinder or truncated cone shape and the top portion 812 may be substantially semi-spherical or a similar shape. The top portion 812 may have the face or other features of an animal, such as a cat, depicted on it, as shown in FIG. 8. In embodiments where portions of vessel 110/810 may be shaped as an animal, toy, or other object, there may be raised portions, protrusions, or indentions to create features such as the ears 860 in object storage device 800. The exterior of the object storage device may be smooth or textured. In embodiments where the exterior is textured, it may be to add ornamentation, such as embossment 862, as shown in FIG. 9. In some exemplary embodiments, labels may be affixed to the exterior of vessel 110/810. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the exterior of bottom portion 816 may or may not have embossing 862. In embodiments without embossing, the exterior of bottom portion 816 may be substantially smooth. In such embodiments, a label may be affixed to the exterior of bottom portion 816.

The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An object storage device comprising: a substantially hollow vessel having a base section and capable of being separated into at least a top portion and a bottom portion, wherein the separation allows access to an interior of the vessel; and a removable internal divider configured to divide the interior of the substantially hollow vessel into at least two distinct compartments when installed between the compartments and, when installed, prevent a small object or toy disposed in one compartment from interacting with a solid or liquid food item in another compartment.
 2. The object storage device of claim 1, wherein the removable internal divider comprises a sealing member arranged so as to seal one of the at least two compartments so it is water tight, air tight, or both water tight and air tight.
 3. The object storage device of claim 2, wherein the removable internal divider comprises a film comprised of plastics and arranged so as to seal to an edge of one of the at least two compartments by applying heat.
 4. The object storage device of claim 1, further comprising at least one removable sealing member arranged to seal at least one of the compartments created by the removable internal divider so it is water tight, air tight, or both water tight and air tight.
 5. The object storage device of claim 1, wherein the substantially hollow vessel is egg-shaped or ovoid.
 6. The object storage device of claim 1, wherein the bottom portion is substantially cylindrical or conical and the top portion is substantially semi-spherical.
 7. The object storage device of claim 6, further comprising features protruding from the top portion or bottom portion
 8. The object storage device of claim 1, further comprising a label disposed around an exterior of the vessel.
 9. The object storage device of claim 1, further comprising a shrink wrapper disposed around an exterior of the vessel, wherein the shrink wrapper constricts around the vessel when heat is applied, and is arranged to secure the top portion and bottom portion of the vessel together.
 10. The object storage device of claim 9, wherein the shrink wrapper has words or graphics disposed thereon.
 11. A method for packaging and storing an object or food item comprising: providing an object and food item storage device which comprises a substantially hollow vessel; putting a first food item or object in a bottom portion of the vessel; placing an internal divider and a second object or food item in the vessel so that the portions of the vessel, when assembled, leave the first food item or object on one side of the divider and the second food item or object on the other side of the divider. 